Chord transcription by Mikayel Abazyan mikayelabazyan@yahoo.com
Playing tips
One of the most complicated VdGG songs, so take all the chords here with a grain of salt...
and refer to the original recording, as always!
Gm(+d) 3 1 0 0 3 x
Gm(+c) 3 3 0 0 1 x
G7* 3 1 0 0 0 x
Bb* 1 1 3 3 x x ?
GUITAR INTRO: a e c d c g c e c d-c-b-a (This is actually the vocal line, and is played through the first four lines)
(Dm) a e c d c g c e c d-c - b-a
I stood alone upon the highest cli-iff-to-op,
a e c d c g c e c d-c-b-a
looked down, around, and all that I could se-e-e-e
a e c d c g c e c d-c- b-a
were those that I would dearly love to share wi-ith
a e c d c g c e c d-c-b-a D
crashing on quite blindly to the sea....
D E
I tried to ask what game this was
F G
but knew I would not play it:
G# A# C
the voice, as one, as no-one, came to me....
BRIDGE: (Another then-to-become-the-lead-vocal-line passage, structurally the same but
first played starting from g#, then a#, and, finally, from c, the way the vocal goes in
the next part, and in similar parts, too)
g# a# c# d# g g# c c# f g a# c c# a#
a# c d# f a a# d d# g a c d d# c
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
"We have looked upon the heroes and they are found wanting;
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
we have looked hard across the land but we can see no dawn;
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
we have now dared to sear the sky but we are still bleeding;
c d f g a# c e f
we are drawing near to the cliffs,
a b d e f D
now we can hear the call.
F
The clouds are piled in mountain-shapes,
G Dm7 Dm Dm7 Dm
there is no escape except to go forward.
F
Don't ask us for an answer now,
G Dm7 Dm Dm7 Dm
it's far too late to bow to that con - vention.
Am G(+d) D
What course is there left but to die?
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
We have looked upon the High Kings, found them less than mortals:
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
their names are dust be-fore the just march of our young, new law.
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
Minds stumbling strong, we hurtle on into the dark portal;
c d f g a# c e f
No-one can halt our final vault
a b d e f d
into the unknown maw.
F
And as the Elders beat their brows
G Dm7 Dm Dm7 Dm
they know that it is really far too late now to stop us,
F
for if the sky is seeded death
G Dm7 Dm Dm7 Dm
what is the point in catching breath? Expel it.
Am G(+d) D
What cause is there left but to die
Am G(+d) D
in searching of something we're really not too sure of?"
F G F G- G
What cause is there left but to die?
E F E F- F
What cause is there left but to die?
D E D E- E
What cause is there left but to die?
C C Dm
I really don't know why.
{ Gm(+d) G7* C G(+d) Gm(+d) G C G(+d) G } x2 F F-F-F G
Gm(+d) G(+c) G7* C Gm(+d) Gm(+d) G(+c) G7* C Gm(+d) G
I know our ends may be soon but why do you make them so - oner?
Gm(+d) G(+c) G7* C Gm(+d) Gm(+d) G(+c) G7* C Gm(+d) G F
Time may finally prove only the liv - ing move her and
G G
no life lies in the quicksand.
Gm(+d) G(+c)-G7* C Gm(+d) Gm(+d) G(+c)-G7* C Gm(+d) G
Gm(+d) G(+c)-G7* C Gm(+d) Gm(+d) G(+c)-G7* C Gm(+d) G F F G F G F Em D# D
BRIDGE: { C# C-C B-B E } x3 (during the next, 4th passage, the next line is sung)
D E D E D E D E
Yes, I know it's out of control, out of control:
Dm Dmsus4 Dm Dm* Dm Dm* Dm
greasy machi - nery slides on the rails,
Dm Dmsus4 Dm Dm* Dm Dm* Dm
young minds and bodies on steel spokes im - paled.
{ C# C-C B-B E }
D E D E D E D E
Cogs tearing bones, cogs tearing bones;
Dm Dmsus4 Dm Dm* Dm Dm* Dm
iron-throated monsters are for - cing the screams,
Dm Dmsus4 Dm Dm* Dm Dm* Dm
mind and machi - nery box-press the dreams.
{ C# C-C B-B E }
C# C C B-B E Bb*
But there still is time....
BRIDGE: (instrumental improvisation continues for some time until the first BRIDGE pattern
appears with notes played with equal time intervals in between: { c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d } x2;
after the second pass { c d g } is added - and the Main theme returns)
g# a# c# d# g g# c c# f g a# c c# a#
a# c d# f a a# d d# g a c d d# c
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
Cowards are they who run today, the fight is beginning...
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
no war with knives, fight with our lives, lemmings can teach nothing;
c d f g a# c e f a b d e f d
death offers no hope, we must grope for the unknown answer,
c d f g a# c e f
unite our blood, a-bate the flood,
a b d e f d
avert the disaster.
F
There's other ways than screaming in the mob:
G Dm
that makes us merely cogs of hatred.
F
Look to the why and where we are,
G Dm
look to yourselves and the stars,yes, and in the end
G- Am G D
what choice is there left but to live
Am
in the hope of saving
G D
our children's children's little ones?
F G F G- G
What choice is there left but to live
E F E F- F
What choice is there left but to live
D E D E- E
What choice is there left but to live
C Dm-Dm
to save the little ones?
F G F G- G
What choice is there left but to try?
E F E F- F
What choice is there left but to try?
D E D E- E
What choice is there left
C Dm-Dm
but to try?
INSTRUMENTAL CODA:
F G F G
E F E F
D E D E
C D C D
A# C A# C
G# A# G# A#
F# G# F# G#
D# F D# F
D#